Water closet



June 10, 1952 M. J. KuMNlcK 2,599,765

' WATER CLOSET Filed June 25, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l ley/@w i @im M. J. KUMNICK WATER CLOSET June 10, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 25, 1949 I llllll.

INVENTOR.

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Patented June 10, 1952 UNITED STATES 4PATENT OFFICE WATER CLOSET Martin J. Kumnick, Englewood Cliifs, N. J.

Application June 25, 1949, Serial No. 101,293

19 Claims. (Cl. 4-77) The present invention represents what is believed to be a substantial innovation in and departure from conventional self-pumping water closets; and while applicable to many types of water closet installations, it finds particular usefulness in situations such as aboard ships, where considerable variation in both inlet and outlet pressure heads may exist, as in positions above or below the sea water level; or where economy of size or structural and operational simplicity become important considerations.

Self-pumping water closets of the prior art, which employ centrifugal type pumps, are frequently lacking in the necessary lifting power to pump the discharge material through a discharge point substantially above the iiushing The rotary, sliding vane type Water closets are prone to exhibit shortcomings in that material tends to wrap around the rotor. The plunger or piston type water closets generally have so small' a piston displacement that much of the material will pull only part way through the valve on the working stroke, thus preventing the valves from properly closing.

My invention is intended to remedy the various defects outlined above, and, to this end, has for its general object the utilization of a plungertype pump of sufficient displacement so as to complete the flushing operation in one complete plunger cycle, thus removing all the material from the flushing bowl with suicient power to discharge it more than four feet above the bowl level.

In the following specication and drawings,

I shall describe one embodiment which will? aord a better understanding of the nature of my invention together with further objects and advantages thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a cross-section through the water closet showing the plunger in the down or ready position, i. e., in a position in which it is ready to start a flushing cycle;

Fig. 2 is a detail of the input valve in the closed position showing the magnetically-controlled safety latch;

Fig. 3l is a partially sectional view along the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-section of the switch control box and Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are circuit diagrams showing the successive energizations of the coils.

The device shown is essentially an electromagnetically operated self-pumping water closet utilizing a mechanical piston or plunger I adapt- 2 ed to pass over two preferably concentric diamagnetic inner tubes 2 and 3, the inner tube 2 being adapted to allow the passage of waste material from the flushing bowl 4, through the discharge chamber and through the discharge valve 6, and the outer tube 3 being adapted to permit the passage of flushing fluid from the intake chamber 1 through the electromagnetic intake valve 8, through the passages 9, I0 to the upper portion of the outer concentric tube 3 through the ports II into the space I2 above the piston I. V

The water closet is in the ready position with the plunger I in the down position, as

shown in Fig. 1, the space 12 above the plunger I being full of flushing fluid to the level indicated in Fig. 1. rst. This partly raises the plunger I inthe cylinder 35. This coilis then de-energized simultaneously with the energization of the top coil I3 which operates to complete the upward travel of the plunger (line Ia) forcing the fluid in the space I2 above the plunger I into the flushing bowl 4 through the valve I6.

The reduction in pressure thus created inthe cylinder 35 below the plunger I as it rises causes all matter in the bowl 4 to discharge through the anti-splash valve 3I, tube 2 and valve 32 into the discharge chamber 5, waste fluids filling the,

space below the plunger I, and solid matter being conined to discharge chamber 5 bythe stationary bailies 33 and 33a as hereinafter to be discussed. e .f

When the plunger I is in the up position (line Ia) the center solenoid I4'1s then energized and the top coil I3 de-energized. This'causes the plunger I to begin its downward travel. The

center coil I4 is then de-energized simultaneouslyy with the energization of the bottom coil I5. This causes the plunger I to resume its original position, forcing the waste material in the discharge chamber 5 out through the discharge valve 6. As the plunger I makes its downward stroke a reduction of pressure in the cylinder space-I2 above the plunger I causes flushing fluid tov pass from the intake chamber 'I through the intake valve 8, through the passages 9 and III, throughA the tube 3 and the ports II into the space I2, above the plunger I, leaving the device ready for the next operation.

It win be understood by one sinned m the; are.v that the system may be so designed as to permit. one complete flushing cycle to takek place inal predetermined period of time and that this period.

of time may be varied by any well-known means,

The intermediate coil I4 is magnetized` Y ond period of time.

The ushing fluid in the intake chamber is prevented from entering the intake tube 3 by the electromagnetically controlled valve 8 until valve 8 is an ordinary flap-type, weight-loaded,

gravity valve securedby a latch I'l hinged at IBV 1 and pinned to an armature I9 at 29. The armai ture I9 is pivotally fixed at its upper end at point by forcing the latch I'| against Vit.` When the plunger I moves to the upper position (line Ia the plunger I is in its uppermost position. This of Fig. l) the magnetic flux through armature |9 i thereby increases suciently that the armature I9 Yis magnetically attracted in such manner that it rotates counterclockwise about point 2| against the tensionof spring 23 until its lower'end reaches the-point 24. VThis causes the latch I'|, which Vis pivoted at point I8 and rotatably pinned to the armature I9 at poi Vt 29, to swing to a position generally parallel to the longer arm of the armature I9, thusfpermitting the intakevalve 8 to open. The valve 8 is in effect a weight-loaded, flap-type valve. Y

It willbe understood by one skilled in the art Y that by proportioning the amounts and positions of the magnetic members in the magnetic Velds of the coils I3, I4and |5, the magnetic reluctances inthe two extreme positions of the armature I9 will be such that the armature I9 will be attracted upwardly when the plunger I is in its upper position and not attracted when the plunger lis in its lower position. In any event, since` the intent is vthat .thefinta-ke valve 8 be closed when the plunger I returns to its lower position,` the closure of 4that valve may also be accomplished by proper def-energization ofthe lower coil l when thearmature will return to its lower position. v

L-Referring .to the drawings in .more detail, 4 dnotesa flushing bowl which may beone having anoval ushing rim of vitreous china, 'or of any dianiagnetic metal, with flushing water passages 25Vand rim 29 `formed within the Vbowl to elimi-V nate 'external piping. Atth'e top of the ushing water passage 25'is the bowl input valve YI 6 which may be a flap-type, Vgravity or spring-closing valve; This may be held open by a pushin plunger 26. This plunger 25 when fully advanced, willhold the input'valveIB open, thus permitting maximum bowl discharge with minimum flushing water input when flushing fluid has been put into the bowl "4 by other means. vSurrounding the plunger 26 is a threadedmember 2'| which maybe adjusted to advance or retard the position of thestud 28 and thereby may be used to hold theV valve I6 Vslightly away from its seat thereby permitting air to enter the space I2 above` the `plungerl on the flushing fluid suction stroke, or downward stroke,V permitting control of the quantity of flushing fluidv supplied tothe space |2'for later discharge. Y

Fastened to the bowl, at 'its underside, is a thin-: walled tube 35 preferably of.diamagnetic"metal.` This tube 35 extends' to the baseplate 30 and is made water-tight at both ends by gaskets 35a. The base plate may be a castingof diamagnetie metal whichsupports'the entirev device. Concentric withthe tube. 35andjoined to the base` plate 30 and to the underside ofthe flushing bowl point where 4, being made water-tight at that point by the anti-splash valve 3|, are two tubes 2 and 3, the outer tube 3 having water ports II at its upper end and containing the steel strip 22, and the inner tube 2 being adapted to receive the discharge of material from the bowl 4.

The anti-splash valve 3| is'preferably a doubletiered, slotted cone having four sectional flaps arranged so that a flap of `one cone half overlaps a flap of the other Acone. This cone is preferably made of a pliable material such as neoprene. Thus the valve section flaps push open to permit the passage of waste materials from the vflushing bowl 4; This valve 3| prevents material in the discharge chamber 5 from resurging into the bowl 4 when the plunger I is on its down stroke in the event that theV discharge valve 32 fails to close completely.

Positioned directly alongside the discharge chamber 5 and within the base 39 is the intake chamber 'I'his intake chamber 'i is adapted to receive flushing fluid from the sea or from'a fluid storage tank by pipe 82 and is adapted to feed flushing iiuid to the` intake tube 3 by the intake valve 8 hereinbefore discussed. The solenoid valve 89 is preferably positioned near the opening 8| of the intake chamber outside the the water supply pipe -82 enters the chamber l. It should be understood that the Isolenoid valve Vis closed while the intake valve 8 is closed, and is adapted primarily to be Vused as a safety valve when the water-closet is operating at extreme heads both intake anddischarge.

Positioned directly below the Vdischarge tube 2 and within the base 30 is the discharge chamber 5. This chamber lies below the check valve 32 and contains the slotted bailles 33 and 33a hereinafter to be described.

Adapted to slide between the center and the outer concentric tubes 3 and 35 by. a center open-l ing is a magnetic plunger I, preferably of 'soft steel, having each end conedin towards the plunger center. Y Theentire plunger I preferably is electroplated to retard corrosion and provision is madeV for sealing the working surfaces between plunger and the tubes 35 and 3 Vby placing sealing rings 34 at the top and bottom of the outside surfaces ofthe plunger and Vsealing rings V36 on the insidesurface Vof the center opening ofthe plunger I. Y Y

On the outside of the cylinder 35 4are placed three electromagnetic coils I3, I4 and I5 which' may be adapted'tobeenergized inapredetermined order by any vwellknown series of electromagnetic switches,v-Fig. 4, whichutilize the ships or vehicles electric current and which may beA operated by a cam handle 45 placed ona switch box 31. The switch box 31 whichalso controls solenoid valve 8|) may be positioned on the wall of the stateroom or closet within-easy reach of the operator. VA preferred embodiment yemployed will be described hereafter. y Y

At the base of the discharge tube 2 betweenthe tube and the discharge chamber 5 is a discharge check valve 32 which may be a flap-type, springclosing valve hinged to the base plate'30 at point 38; the spring 39 being connected to the stationary baille 33. Y v

Fastened to the raised part'of the base 30 at points 40 and 4I are two stationary baffles 33 and 33Amade of diamagnetic metal. These baffles are nearly as wide as the Vdischarge chamber'5.v

The lower ends of Vthese baflles 33'and"33a.`are

tlnes. This permits the waste fluid to pass under the plunger I and confines the solids to the discharge chamber 5, all the waste material being discharged through valve 6 by the downward stroke of the plunger I.

At the outlet end of the discharge chamber is a flap-type, weight-loaded, gravity or springclosing sea-discharge valve 6 normally held closed by the pressure of the sea water head if such exists, or held closed by its own weight, or by spring 42 if there is no back pressure, and adapted to open for discharge on the return stroke of the plunger I.

One embodiment of the means I employ to energize the coils I3, I4 and I5 is substantially as follows: Aiixed to the stateroom wall sufficiently near the water-closet so as to be within easy reach of the operator is a switch box 31 containing a rotary cam 44 adapted to rotate through an angle of 360 by any well-known mechanical or electrical means, a cam handle 45 adapted to operate said means, armatures 46, 41, 48, 49 and 50, normally spring-biased in a clockwise direction by pressure of the springs 5ta, 52a, 53a, 54a, 55a on the fixed studs 5I, 52, 53, 54, 55 and cam followers 56. 51, 58, 58 and 60 affixed to the armatures 46, 41, 48, 49 and 50. This switch, Fig. 4, is in circuit with a current source which may be the ships current and is also in circuit with the three coils I3, I4 and I5 disposed around the cylinder 35. Preferably, in the circuit are a conventional field discharge resistor 6 I, a condenser 62 and a magnetic blowout coil 63 adapted to reduce arcing and induced voltages in the coils I3, I4 and I5 when any of the said coils I3, I4 or I5 is de-energized.

The method of operation of the control system is as follows: The cam 44 is in the initial position when shoulder 66 .rests between the points 64 and 65 (Fig. 4), no coil being then energized. In this position line 61 and line 68 are open at points 69 and 10, no current flowing (Fig. 10). This prevents any leakage of current through the system. The cam is then rotated by any well-known means, as for example by a spring, through an angle of 360 during a predetermined period of time, for example, 5 to 10 seconds. This period of time is the same as that through which the plunger makes its complete flushing cycle and may be varied by any well-known means to correspond to variations in intake and discharge heads. When the shoulder 66 of the cam 44 reaches the point shown in Fig. 4, the spring 5Ia forces the cam rider 56 down to the lower level of the cam 44 closing the contact points 61 and 69, the cam rider 60 having ridden up on the upper level of the cam 44 over the shoulder 66a closing Vthe contact points 68 and 10. The current then follows 5the path through intermediate coil I4 in Fig.

The cam shoulder 66 next rea-ches the point. 51a. This closes the points 12 and 13, the points 61 and 69 and 68 and 10 remaining closed. The current then flows as shown in Fig. 6 which has the effect of energizing the top coil I3 and deenergizing the intermediate coil I4.

As the cam shoulder 66 continues its rotary path the various contact points 15, 16 and 18 and 19 close successively causing the current to ow as in Figs. 7 and 8. Just before cam shoulder 66 reaches point 60a, cam rider 56 rides up to the upper level of cam 44 on cam shoulder 66a. This has the effect of opening points 61 and 69, points 68 and 16 remaining closed. No

6 current flows as shown'in Fig. 9. Cam shoulder 66 next passes point 60a, at which time it reaches its initial position as hereinbefore shown. The purpose of having lines 6,1 and 66 both open at the initial position, i. e., when cam shoulder 66 rests between points 64 and 65 is to prevent any leakage of current through the system. Thus the coils I3, I 4 and I5 are energized in the following order: the intermediate coil, the top coil, the intermediate coil and the lower coil. The plunger is thus carried through one complete flushing cycle.

A solenoid valve 88 is positioned near the opening 8| of the intake chamber 1 outside the point where the water supply pipe 82 enters the chamber. This solenoid valve is controlled electrically by the switch (see Fig. 4) and is adapted to open when the cam shoulder 66 successively reaches the points 58a and 59a, the current owing as shown in Figs. 7 and 8'.

I claim:

1. A water closet comprising a bowl, a discharge tube and an intake tube connected to said bowl, a flushing mechanism for -forcing fluid through said intake tube into said bowl for discharge through said discharge tube, comprising av reciprocatable electromagnetic plunger, electromagnetic means for reciprocating said plunger, and means for energizing said means whereby said'plunger may be caused to reciprocate cyclically to force fluid into said bowl during one half of its reciprocatory cycle.

Y 2. A water closet as in claim 1 including an electromagnetically operated intake valve responsive to the energization of said electromagnetic means for controlling the inux of flushing fluid to said intake tube.

3. A water closet as in claim 2 including means for preventing the resurgence of discharge material through said discharge tube.

4. A water closet as in claim 1 including means for preventing the resurgence of discharge material through said discharge tube.

5. A water closet comprising a bowl, a discharge tube, and an intake tube connected to said bowl, a flushing mechanism for forcing a flushing fluid through said intake tube into said bowl for discharge through said discharge tube, comprising a reciprocatable electromagnetic plunger, a plurality of electromagnetic coils positioned along the path of said plunger for reciprocating said plunger, and means for energizing said coils in a predetermined sequence whereby said plunger may be caused to reciprocate cyclically to force uid into said bowl during onehalf of its reciprocatory cycle.

6. A water closet as in claim 5 in which said means for energizing said coils comprises a rotatable cam, a plurality of switch opening and closing members including cam riders adapted to cooperate with said cam, said members being oonnected in circuit with said coils.

7. A Water closet as in claim 5 including an electromagnetically operated intake valve responsive to the energization of said electromagnetic coils for controlling the influx of ushing uid to said intake tube.

8. A Water closet as in claim 7 including means for preventing the resurgence of discharge material through said discharge tube.

9. A water closet as in claim 5 including means for preventing the resurgence of discharge material through said discharge tube.

10. A water closet comprising a bowl, a discharge tube positioned directly below said bowl, an intake tube concentric with said discharge VV7 tube, a ilushi-ng mechanism for forcing fiiushr ing -fluids through said intake tube into said `bowl `fordischarge through said discharge tube. corn--Y prising a reciprocatable electromagnetic plungerv adapted to operate concentrically with saidY discharge and intake tubes, a'plurali'ty of electro-` magnetic coils positioned Yalong the path of. said plunger for reciprocating said plunger and `means for energizing said coils in a predetermined selquence whereby said plunger may be caused to L reciprocate cyclically to force fluid into said bowl during one-half of its reciprocatorycycle.Y Y Y 11. A water vcloset as in claim 10 in which said means for serially energizing said coils comprises `a rotatable cam, a plurality kof switch opening ,Y

and closing members including cam riders adapt- `e'd t'o'cooperate with said cam, said members beingY connected in circuit withsaid coil.

12. A water closet as in claim 10 includingan electromagnetically operated intake valve responsive toV the energization of said electromagnetic coils for controlling the inilux of ilushing iluids tosaid intake tube. f

13. A water closet as in claim 12 including .fmeans for' preventing the resurgence of disl charge material through said discharge tube.

14.v AV water closet as in claim 10 including, meansfor preventing the resurgence of discharge material'through said discharge tube.

.15.- A water closet comprising a bowl, a cylina der 'positioned below said bowl, a discharge tube `positioned below said bowl and an intake tube positioned below said bowl, both intake and discharge tubes being concentric with and within said cylinder, a flushing mechanism forforcing flushing fluid through said intake tube into said bowl for'discharge through said discharge tube 'comprising a reciprocatable plunger adapted to operate between said intake electromagnetic tube and cylinder, a plurality of electromagnetic coils positioned along the path of said plungery 8 and outside --said cylinder for reciprocating,said plunger,v and means for energizing said electromagnetic coils in a predetermined sequence whereby said plunger may be caused to sreciprocate cyclically to force flushing fluid ,into said bowl during one-half of its reciprocatory cycle.

16. A water closet-as in claim 15 in which said means for serially energizingvsaid coil comprises a rotatable cam, a plurality of switch opening and closing members including cam riders adapted to cooperate with said cam, said Vmembers being connected in circuit with said coils.

17. A water closet as in claim.15 .including an electromagnetically operated intake valve responsive to the Yenergization of said electromagnetic coils for controlling the inux of .flushing 'fluid to said lintake tube.

`18. A water closet as in 'claim 17 including 'a valve normally biased'to close the end of Ysaid discharge tube for preventing the resurgen'ceoi `discharge material throughsaid discharge tube.

19. A water closet asin claim -15 including means for preventing resurgence of discharge material throughsaid discharge tube.

MARTIN J. KUMNICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofrecord in 'the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

